He was born August 28, 1923 in Brush, Colo., to Henry and Susanna Lauck.

He graduated from the Brush High School.

George married Isabelle Rose (Susie) Meyer on December 15, 1946 in Fort Morgan, Colo.

George and Susie ran diverse cattle and irrigated farming operations, in the Hillrose, Wiggins and Fort Morgan area beginning in 1945. George retired in 2006.

He was a member of the Immanuel Evangelical Church in Fort Morgan.

He was involved in the Morgan County 4-H program for many years. For nearly 20 years George served on the board of directors of Premier Farm Credit.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brothers. The passionate interest of George’s life was genealogy and tracing the family tree. George was active in the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR) attending many of the national conferences.

John L. Buckingham, 77, passed away January 23, 2014, after an accident on his ranch near Casper, Wyo.

He was born in Arminto, Wyo., November 5, 1936.

A true cowboy, John grew up in the Hole in the Wall country. He rodeoed while attending Kaycee High School, graduating in 1955. Continuing his education and his rodeo career he attended Casper College and then the University of Wyoming graduating in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Agriculture. In college rodeo John competed in calf roping, bull riding and saddle bronc riding. He went to the College National Finals Rodeo all four years he was in college and did well enough rodeoing to help pay his way through college.

Following college he joined the PRCA. He competed in saddle bronc riding. It was his passion. He rodeoed throughout the west, placing in most of the big rodeos including many times at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Like many rodeo cowboys, he had a career along with his rodeo. He began working for Production Credit Association in Laramie where he worked until the 1970s. After moving to the Casper area he became the Vice President of the Farm Credit Services.

He married his dear wife Jessie Marie March 29, 1995. They settled on a ranch north of Casper, Wyo.

Along with his rodeo he also had a love for music and animals. He was an accomplished guitar player and never turned down a good jam session with family or friends. His musical gifts live on being passed down to his kids and grandkids. John especially appreciated a good horse and a good dog, both of which he had a real knack in training and using. His love for them showed in the special care he gave them.

Services were held January 31, 2014 at the Restoration Church in Casper, Wyo.

Memorials may be made in John’s name to the University of Wyoming Rodeo Club, Dept. 3354, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, Wyo., 82071 or the Craig Hospital Foundation, 3425 S. Clarkson St., Englewood, Colo., 80113. ❖

He spent his youth on a small ranch north of Wray, Colo. He attended grade school in a one-room country school and then later attended Wray High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society and was Wray FFA first chapter president. It was here that he met and fell in love with his future wife, Mary Faye Funk.

Howard worked in the hay fields in North Park, Colo., during the summers and part time for the Wray phone company. At that time Howard was sure of one thing: He didn’t want to be a farmer and rancher. After marriage in 1940, he secured a full time job with the Phone Company and was transferred to Denver, installing phones at Buckley Air Force Base. Their first daughter was born at this time.

In the spring of 1943, after disillusionment with city life, he, his wife and daughter bought a farm southeast of Akron, a mile from where his parents had recently moved from the Wray area and also bought a farm.

After a short time, as a member of the “Greatest Generation” he enlisted in the Navy and served until the end of World War II. While in the Navy, Howard attended engineering and refrigeration schools and was assigned to the newly commissioned “USS Fisk” and rose to the rank of Fireman First Class. It was during this time Howard and Mary Faye’s second daughter was born. When his duty for his country was done, he returned home to Akron and continued to build his family and farm.

Howard enjoyed his community and served on many boards and committees. He served on the Ashland School board, the Otis School board, Washington County Farm Bureau board, Washington County Schools Redistricting Committee, Washington County Pest Control and was an active member of the Akron Odd Fellow Lodge and Town and County Card Club.

Howard worked his son into the family farm and farmed until his retirement and the loss of his beloved mate, Mary Faye. He eventually moved into an assisted living apartment (The Legacy) in Sterling and later into Devonshire Nursing Home.

Left to mourn him are his daughters, Janice and husband Ron Shook of Akron, Colo., Connie and husband Ed Corman of Otis, Colo., Linda and husband Jerry Kuntz of Atwood, Colo., and Rhonda and husband Tim Kuntz of Lone Star, Colo., and son Thomas and wife Shirl Twiss of Otis, Colo. He was blessed with 11 grandchildren, 26 great grand children and three great, great grand children and many nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

He was born on Nov. 23, 1946 to August and Aldena (Uhrich) Meisner in Greeley.

Ron grew up in Windsor, Colo., helping his dad in the tree business, and graduated from Windsor High School. On September 4, 1965 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greeley, he married Caroline “Lynn” Haun.

Ron was a barber for eight years and then became a general contractor. He was a very hard working, honest, outspoken and loyal man. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, being outdoors and trains. Ron loved to play with his dogs, Sam and Abby and tinkering in the garage. His family came first and in his later years he enjoyed 4-wheeling with his grandkids. He was a great teacher and knew the Bible inside and out.

He was a member of Schuller Ministries.

He is survived by his wife Lynn; two children Steve (Brandie) Meisner of LaSalle, Colo., Wendy (Terry) Olin of Greeley, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Kayla (Paul) Meisner, Luke (Kylee) Olin, Michael (Trina) Meisner, Jacob (Tevin) Olin, Zachary Olin, Hannah Olin, Tyler Davidson, Ben Guildner; one great granddaughter and one great grandson, both on the way; a sister, Kathi (Dennis) Grant of Wyoming and two brothers, Gary Meisner and Alden Meisner.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; and aunt and uncle, Marie and Robert Kneip.

Services were held March 27, 2014, at Adamson Chapel in Greeley, Colo.

She was preceded in death by parents, husband John Boxler in 1993, sister Susie Lauer, brothers John, Vern”Fat”, Gottlieb, Alex, Ralph and George.

Services were held March 24, 2014, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Walk at Devonshire. ❖

William F. Packard

William F. Packard, “Bill” to his many friends and associates was born in Falls City, Neb., and raised in Atwood, Kan., by his parents, William and Myrtle (Goodell) Packard.

He served in the Navy during WWII, then enrolled in the University of South Dakota under the GI Bill for a Business Degree. While in South Dakota he worked in the campaign of Medal of Honor recipient and Marine fighter pilot Ace Joe Foss for Governor. He did well in his studies and although he said he was pretty much a failure at High School math, he found a college professor who taught him how to become proficient at it. That served him well when he entered the banking business, working his way up from a RePro Man collecting bad debts and repossessing property, to Loan Officer, to Financial Officer, and eventually as President of the Peoples Bank of Aurora, Colo.

He loved living in Colorado and always dressed in western cut suits and boots. He was active in the El Jebel Shrine and bought a Harley Davison motorcycle to ride their Motorcycle Patrol to entertain in parades. He joined the Roundup Riders of the Rockies in 1976 and rode his horse on many of their weeklong 100 mile rides through the high Rocky Mountains. He eventually became Executive Secretary of that prestigious organization which draws riders from many states across the length and breadth of the nation. Upon retirement as a Life Member after some 30 years as a rider and executive secretary, he joined the Cunningham Fire District as a Director. He eventually became President of the District covering 14 square miles of unincorporated Arapahoe County and parts of the city of Centennial. The District has three operational fire stations plus a quartermaster station. There are approximately 85 firemen and an annual budget of some $11,000,000 which he was managing at the time of his death at age 87. That is quite an accomplishment for someone who flunked High School math.

Bill is survived by his sister Marlene Unger of Apache Junction, Ariz., a daughter Marcia Hansen and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son William.

His ashes will be spread in the high mountains where he loved to ride.